Ford CEO Alan Mulally to deliver opening keynote at 2010 CES
by Sam Abuelsamid on Sep 22nd 2009 at 8:01AM 
Next January, Ford CEO Alan Mulally will make a return trip to Las Vegas to deliver a keynote address to the Consumer Electronics Show (CES). Gary Shapiro, president of the Consumer Electronics Association and (apparently) the 16th most influential person in the tech industry, made the announcement at Ford's Dearborn Development Center.This marks the third year in a row that a Detroit CEO keynotes the world's biggest gadget and gear show. Former GM CEO Rick Wagoner spoke at the 2008 show with Mulally taking the podium in 2009. However, 2010 marks the first time someone from the auto industry delivers the opening address. Mulally will speak at 8:30am on January 7, 2010 at the Hilton theater and he will apparently announce some new features for Ford's popular Sync system. Get all the details in the press release below the fold.
[Source: Ford]
press release
FORD'S ALAN MULALLY KICKS OFF 2010 INTERNATIONAL CES WITH OPENING DAY KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Ford President and CEO Alan Mulally will deliver the opening keynote address at the 2010 CES in Las Vegas at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 7, 2010, in the Hilton Theater
Mulally expected to unveil Ford's latest innovations and announce new initiatives related to Ford's industry-leading, voice-activated SYNC® communications technology
DEARBORN, Mich., Sept. 21, 2009 – Ford Motor Company announced today that Alan Mulally, president and chief executive officer, will deliver the opening keynote address at the 2010 International CES® in Las Vegas on Jan. 7 at 8:30 a.m. PST. As part of his remarks, Mulally will reveal Ford's latest innovations and announce new technology developments related to Ford's popular, voice-activated SYNC technology.
"Ford continues to lead by bringing together the automobile and consumer electronics industries," said Mulally, who also headlined at 2009 International CES. "With the introduction of SYNC, we enabled our technology partners to allow consumers to use their mobile devices through the automobile in a safer way. At CES, we will show how Ford vehicles will become docking stations for mobile devices, thanks to our alliances with key technology players, and we will demonstrate how voice activation will be the key technology for future in-car experiences."
Ford has made one of the remaining "un-wired" places – the automobile – a connected destination for mobile devices.
Ford SYNC has enabled an interaction that consumers have come to expect from every other aspect of their lives – their televisions, personal computers and mobile devices – all while helping reduce driver distraction. Ford has applied best practices from the technology and telecommunications industries, moving from hardware- to software-based platforms and bringing to market new innovations and applications for vehicle buyers at unprecedented speeds and rates.
"Alan Mulally has positioned Ford as a leading innovator in the automotive industry, and we are pleased to welcome him back to CES," said Gary Shapiro, president and CEO, Consumer Electronics Association, the producer of the International CES. "For the auto industry and all other businesses that use technology, CES is the single must-attend event where business gets done."
CES is the world's largest consumer technology trade show and takes place Jan. 7-10, 2010.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
HotRodzNKustoms 9:19AM (9/22/2009)
Over the past couple years I think the meaning of CES has changed to Car Electronic Show. Hasn't a car executive been the key note speaker for the past 3 or 4 years in a row? Maybe it's a long standing tradition, I don't know.
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Sea Urchin 10:35AM (9/22/2009)
The irony is when it comes to cars, they are way behind in electronics.
If a car audio has 30GB hard drive it is great, we can buy in Best Buy a 1TB hard drive for under $200.
I think car companies start working on a product and by the time it is finally out the car tech is already behind times, tech moves very fast for the car industry. I am almost shocked that at this point and time most cars do not offer a standard IPod jack.
HotRodzNKustoms 11:41AM (9/22/2009)
It's not that they are behind but car electronics have to be so bullet proof and so foolproof that it is hard to keep up with the latest and greatest electronically. It all goes back to the "If Microsoft Made a Car" jokes the airbag would ask you "are you sure?" before deploying.
From My Cube 9:25AM (9/22/2009)
I'm going to be there!
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Farmboy 9:34AM (9/22/2009)
It's odd, but no surprise that Alan is influential in the tech industry. Ford is really working to be a high-tech car company and employ new standards before everyone else, and that is part of the game.
Damn, that is one nice Taurus, THE finest looking car right now.
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Brian 10:02AM (9/22/2009)
Mullaly said that Ford would be profitable by 2009. Whoops!
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merlot066 10:43AM (9/22/2009)
I guess you missed the newsflash under your rock, the global economy collapsed at the end of 2008, WHOOPS!!!
Brian 11:22AM (9/22/2009)
Economy or not, all the D3 Volvords have been failures. The Five Hundred, then the old Taurus, then the Freestyle, Taurus X, now the Flex...all hardly sell, well below Ford's expectations.
The newest Volvord is the new Taurus...why should we expect it to be any different? I bet the sales numbers of the Volvord Taurus will be dismal.
blitz811 7:26PM (9/23/2009)
guess you forgot about $2.3B profit Q2 2009.
FSM 11:00AM (9/22/2009)
A little off topic, but am I the only one who hates the new Ford grills with all their chrome and no style.
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Sea Urchin 11:24AM (9/22/2009)
Last Gen Fusion Grill was nice, trim and skinny. It seems like bold, in your face grills are almost everywhere these days, Caddy, Fords as you mentioned, Accord.
Avinash machado 11:02AM (9/22/2009)
Welcome back,Sea Urchin.
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Sea Urchin 11:25AM (9/22/2009)
I started to finally taking my meds. That was the precondition for my release.
phillip_pearce 11:05PM (10/03/2009)
so if ford ceo is up for it let make it !!!!!! 2800 miles pr gallen car is idea you would like to be frust if not ko! look for -------------------!
Neworderrr 11:48AM (9/22/2009)
Hasn't Bill Gates made the opening CES keynote for most of the years while he was still running Microsoft? I wonder if Microsoft (with Sync) is still a factor in the keynote.
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KC 1:06PM (9/22/2009)
To bad Ford HATES their existing costumers when it comes to SYNC. New versions of SYNC every year for the last three years and not no upgrades for existing cars. I have an '09 Ford with SYNC version 2, the '10s have version 3 with 911 assist and GPS through compatible cell phones.
Upgrades for version 2 to add these features = non-existent.
Ford claimed one of the great things about SYNC was the ability to upgrade the system by plugging in a USB thumb drive with new software loaded on it. To bad they don't bother with actually putting out the upgrades though
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Infinihertz 2:14PM (9/22/2009)
I don't have SYNC, but I heard SYNC v1 users got a free software upgrade to SYNC v2 (if they went to the website, downloaded the update, put it on a USB stick and plugged it into their car).
The GPS features in v3 (directions, etc.) aren't available for your car because SYNC v3's computer is the first model to have a GPS unit. SYNC does not (yet) use your cell phone's GPS - only the phone's cellular connection. It has its own GPS, and only works if it's there, which is only on the v3 model. I know someone who went to the dealer to have them replace the whole SYNC unit to get GPS, but it obviously wasn't cheap and I'm not sure I'd recommend it.
RockStoneSteel 8:15PM (9/22/2009)
"Mulally expected to unveil Ford's latest innovations"...
Hmmm, perhaps Ford will join the other automakers in the 21st century and begin offering 4 wheel disc brakes on their Ford Escape and Ford Focus. Or perhaps that's just asking too much.
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phillip_pearce 10:52PM (10/03/2009)
a car idea get 2800 miles pr gallen if you would for up to make it happen
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